Machine for stitching with staples



(No Model.) a Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. BURNET. MACHINE FOR STITGHING WITH STAPLES.

No. 481,747. Patented Aug. 30, 1892.

J l J (No Model.) 3 sheets -sheet 2.

R. BURN'ET. v MACHINE FOR STITGHING WITH STAPLES. No. 481,747. PatentedAug. 30, 1892.

afifgl d (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 R BURNET MACHINE FOR STITGHINGWITH STAPLES.

Patented Aug. 30, 1892.

W11 asses NITED STATES ATENT iuucn.

MACHINE FOR STITCHING WITH STAPLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 481,747, dated August30, 1892,

- Application filed August 24, 1891- Serial No. 403,556. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, ROBERT BURNET, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of East Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey,have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Stitching withStaples, of which the following description, taken in connection withthe drawings herewith accompanying, is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of machines adapted for stitchingbooks or other articles with staples; and it consists of improvementsupon the machine embodied in my application for Letters Patent for improvements in book-binding machinery, filed De-' cember 22, 1890, SerialNo. 375,526.

In the present instance my invention consists, first, in the means foroperating and adjusting the movement or feed of the bed or table uponwhich the book or other article to be operated upon is secured;secondly, in the means for regulating the feeding of the staples totheir proper position to be operated upon; thirdly, in the means for adjustably supporting the staples in said position to be operated upon,and, fourthly, in other details of construction and arrangement ofparts, as will hereinafter be described in detail, and pointed out inthe claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents the front view of amachine embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 a side view of the same, thestaple-feed bar 01 being omitted therefrom. Fig. 3 represents a sideview of the table adjusting and operating mechanism, enlarged, indetail, and Fig. 4 a front view of the same. Fig. 5 represents a backView of one of the staple driving and feeding devices detached from themachine, showing the staple-driver raised. Fig. 6 represents a verticalsectional view through line 6 6 of Fig. 5, showing one of the staplessupported in position in the guideway to be engaged by the stapledevice; and Fig. 7 represents a view of the same with the driverdepressed and the staple driven into a section of the object to befastened or stitched, as shown. Fig. 8

represents a vertical sectional View, enlarged, through a section of oneof the staple feeding and driving devices, showing one of the staplesengaged by the cut-off or regulating device; and Fig. 9 represents aview from the rear side of the same, through line 9 9 in Fig. 8, withthe feed-rod removed.

To explain in detail, the main supporting frame or stand A, providedwith the movable bed or table a, supported in suitable ways thereon, thevertically operating frame I), hinged above and at the rear end of thesaid supportingframe A, adapted for the support of the staple drivingand feeding devices, the mechanism for raising and lowering said hingedframe Z2, consisting of the rock-shaft 0, adapted to partially rotate toraise and lower said hinged frame I) through the medium ofconnecting-rods c, which connect at one end with said frame and at theiropposite end with an arm 0 extending from said rockshaft, the latterbeing operated in one direction by the foot-lever c and connectingrods 0and in the opposite direction by the counter-balance c and the saidstaple driving and feeding devices consisting, as more clearly shown inFigs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, of the upper supporting-plate d, constructedfor adjustable attachment with the frame I), and the lower supportingand guide plate 01', adjustably supported at a point below and in itsrelation to the upper plate d on the end of rods or plungers 01 dsupported and adapted to slide in openings in the supportingplatedand-provided with a vertical centrallyarranged groove or guideway 01 inits rear side, adapted to receive the staples (represented at (1 from aninclined feed-rod (1 attached to the plate d, and guide the same, areall of substantially the same construction and operation as in my saidapplication above referred to, Serial No. 375,526. In the presentinstance and according to my invention I pro-. vide a device(represented at E) adapted for regulating the feed of the staples fromthe feed-rod 01 into the guideway 01 in which latter they areadjustablysupported until engaged by the staple-driver d, as willhereinafter be more fully described in detail. Said device E consists ofa plate which is supported by and has a sliding connection with thesupporting-plate cl in the rear of and adjacent to the plunger orstaple-driver 6Z6, by means of two headed pins or projections d allocated on said supporting-plate, projecting through and overlapping thesides of two Vertically-arranged slots or openings 6 6,10-

cated in the plate E, adjacent to its upper end, as more clearly shownin Figs. 5 and 9. The lower or opposite end of the plate is looselysupported and guided in an opening or pocket in the lower plate d, asmore clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7. This plate is provided with anopening 6, located about central therein and in line with the end of thefeed-rod d slightly wider than the latter and of sufficient width forthe passage of a staple through the same. The lower corners of thisopening are provided with shoulders e c which are beveled at their upperedge on one side to form a point at their outer or rear edge to readilyengage with the corresponding beveled points of the staples located onthe feed-rod to throw the same into the guideway d in position to beengaged by the staple-driver d, as will be described. When the upperplate (Z and the lower plate cl have been brought together and thestaple-driver (Z has descended to its limit, as shown in Fig. 7, thesaid opening e in the cut-off or regulating device E is directlyopposite the end of the feed-rod d to allow a staple to slide into thesame and against the side of the staple-driver (1. As the plate or frame(1 is raised the driver d is carried upward, and the device E remainsstationary until the projections (Z d on the plate cl has engaged theupper ends of the slots 6 e therein, at which time the end of the driverhas passed above the lower end of the opening e. The device E is thenraised to cause the shoulders e c to engage the ends of the staplelocated in the opening 6 and throw the same into the now opened guideway(Z and at the same time out off or prevent the next succeeding staplefrom sliding into the said guideway. As the first staple is thus movedinto the guideway d it is supported therein and prevented from fallingby means of a spring arm or catch e projecting from the plate E into thesaid guideway. Said spring-arm e is formed in the instance shown bycutting into the lower edge of the plate E and bending a piece of thesame forward, as clearly shown. At the next descent of the staple-driverand as the plates (Z and cl are brought together the former engages thestaple supported in the guideway d and pushes the same past itssupporting-arm e and into the article to be stitched, and as thestaple-driver is thus lowered the plate or cutoff device E remainsstationary in its raised position until said driver passes below theopening 6 therein and shuts off its communication with the guideway (ZThe lower ends of the slots 6 e are then engaged to lower the plate ordevice E and bring the opening 6 therein opposite the end of thefeed-rod d to allow another staple to slide therein to be fed or throwninto the guideway d in position to be operated upon, as beforedescribed. It will thus be seen that the regulating de vice E is onlymoved a sufficient distance at the upward throw of the staple-driver toengage with a staple and force the same into the guideway (Z and at thesame time engage with and prevent the succeeding staples from slidinginto said guideway and at the downward throw of the staple-driver tomove the opening e into position to receive the succeeding staple, asdescribed.

The feed-rods (Fare formed in two parts or sections, being adj ustablyconnected at or near their lower or supporting end by a tongue on onepart extending into a corresponding opening in the other, as shown bydotted lines in Figs. 6 and 7, and are adjustably held from longitudinalmovement by the end of a spring (Z secured on one section, projectinginto a groove in the other section, the object of such constructionbeing to allow the feed-rod to be detached from its support for thepurpose of being readily supplied with staples.

The sliding table a, supported in suitable ways on the frame A, asbefore described, is provided with a series of teeth or projections a onits under side, adapted to be engaged by an operating-pawl f and bemoved or advanced to automatically feed the book or other articlesecured thereon forward to receive the successive row or rows of staplesadapted to be driven therein by the stapledriving device or devices, asbefore described. The said operating-pawl f is pivotally secured atornear the upper end of a lever a which is pivotally secured upon theframe A at (L as shown in Figsl and 2. This pawl is pivoted a littleforward of its center in order that its forward or engaging end may be.

held in a normal raised position in engagement withthe said teeth orprojections a on the table ct by the weight of their opposite rear ends.The said lever a is operated by the engagement therewith at its lowerend (which latter in the instance shown is provided with a friction-rolla) of a vibrating cam or eccentric h, located on the rock-shaft c. Thiscam or eccentric engages with said lever and moves the pawl located atits upper end forward to advance the table a, and as said cam oreccentric moves back from engagementwith the lever the latter moves backto its normal vertical, or nearly so, position, causing the pawlf torecede and engage with the table in a manner to move the latter forward,when the lever a is again operated upon.

In order to adjust the forward movement or feed of the table a at eachadvance of the operating-pawlf to allow for the varied space desiredbetween the several rows of staples, I provide an adj usting device,consisting of a segment or plate 1', rigidly secured to the rock-shaft0, adjacent to the said cam or eccentric h located thereon. This plate2' is provided with a series of holes or openings 2" therein adjacent toits outer edge or periphery, and the said cam or eccentric h, which isadjustable on the shaft 0, is provided with an arm h',which extendstherefrom to a point adjacent to the outer edge or periphery of theplateor segment i and is adapted to be adjustably connected therewith bymeans of a pin or screw i adapted to extend through the same into one ofthe said openings 1''. By this means the cam or eccentric h isadjustably held in a rigid or stationary position on the rock-shaft c insuch manner that by adjusting the same,as described,it maybe caused toengage with the lever 61. to a greater or less extent and adjust thethrow of the latter and the table operated thereby accordingly, as willbe readily understood. It will appear obvious, however, that a clampingdevice or other suitable means may be employed for adjustably securingthe arm of the cam or eccentric h with the-plate or segment t'in lieu ofthe pin "6 as described, without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

WVhen it is desired to move the tabled back to its normal starting-pointafter being fed forward by the operating-pawl h, the rear end of thelatter is adapted to be engaged and elevated to lower its forward endfrom engagement with the teeth or projections a by an arm or projectionit, (see Fig. 2,) located on a rod or shaft 70, which is supported insuitable bearings beneath the table a. One end of this rod or shaftprojects one side of the frame A and is provided with a handle as shownin Fig. 1, as a means by which it may be operated. The arm or projectionk on the shaft kis held in a normal position from contact with the pawlfby means of a spring k (see Fig. 1,) which connects at one end with therod is to hold it in said yielding stationary position.

In the present instance illustrated I have shown the machine as adaptedfor stitching books, and to adjustably hold the books or several partsthereof firmly While being operated upon I provide two clamping devices,(represented at mm.) These clamping devices consist of asupporting-frame m, adapted to be secured to the front edge of the tablea and provided with an adjusting-screw m in its upper edge, around thestem of which is located a coiled spring m Between the end of thisspring and the head of the screw an arm m is elastically supported atone end in such manner that its opposite or free end, which is bent orturned downwardly, has an elastic pressure toward or against the tablea, in order to firmly hold the edges of the book or other object placedbeneath the same. The pressure of the arm m may be regulated byadjusting the screw m as will be readily understood.

I have also shown a gage, consisting of an adjustable plate or bar n,arranged across the table a to present a fiat-face surface, againstwhich one edge of the leaves or sections forming the filling of the bookare placed, in order to form an even and uniform edge when the book isfinished. The gage is adjustable to allow for the different sizes ofbooks or other articles by means of an arm or stem M, which is adjustably held by a clamping device a located on the frame A at the rearof the table a. The said clamping device a consists, as more clearlyshown in Fig. 1, of two upright arms, between which the arm or stem ofthe gage 07/ extends, which are adapted to be clamped together by anadjusting-screw, as shown. It is obvious, however, that other suitableforms of clamping device might be used in lieu of the one shown anddescribed without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus set forth my invention,'what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United, States, is

1. A machine for stitching with staples, having a staple driving andfeeding device consisting of two plates or devices movably supported intheir relation to each other, one of which is provided with a staplesupporting and feeding rod or device and the other provided with adevice operated thereby to reciprocate adjacent to the end of saidfeeding rod or device and regulate the feed of the staples therefrom,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. A staple-driving machine having a staple driving and feeding deviceconsisting of two plates or devices adjustably supported in theirrelation to each other, one of which is provided with a staple-feedingdevice and the other with a device having an opening therein adapted tooperate adjacent to the end of said feeding device to allow of and cutofi the feed of the staples from the latter, substantially as described,and for the purpose set forth.

3. A staple-driving machine having a staple driving and feeding deviceconsisting of two plates or devices adjustable in their relation to eachother, one of which is provided with a staple supporting and feedingdevice and the other with a plate having an opening therein withshoulders or projectionsadapted for engaging with and releasing a staplefrom the said supporting and feeding device, substantially as described,and for the purpose set forth.

4:. The combination, in a machine for stitching with staples, of astaple driving and feeding device consisting of two plates or devicesadapted to operate in a line with each other, one of which is providedwithavertically-arranged groove or guideway and witha staplefeeding rodor device and the other provided with a device adapted to regulate thefeed of the staples from the said feeding device into said guideway, aspring-arm extending into said guideway, and a reciprocatingstapledriver, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination ,witha supporting-frame, of a sliding bed or tablemounted in suitable ways thereon and provided with teeth or projections, a pivoted lever carrying a pawl for engaging with andoperating said bed or table, acam or eccentric adj ustably mounted on arock-shaft for operating said pivoted lever, an adjusting device orplatesecured on said rock-shaft, and means for adjustably connecting thesaid cam or eccentric therewith, substantially as described, and for thepurpose set forth.

6. Thecombination,withasupporting-frame, of a sliding bed or tablemounted in suitable ways thereon and provided with teeth or projectionson its under surface, a pivoted lever carrying a pawl for engaging withand operating said bed or table, a cam or eccentric adjustably mountedon a rock-shaft for operating said pivoted lever, an adjusting device orplate secured on said rock-shaft provided with a series of openingstherein, and a pin, screw, or other device for adjustably connectingsaid cam or eccentric with the adjusting device or plate by insertioninto one of the said openings thereon, substantially as described, andfor the purpose set forth.

7. In a machine for stitching with staples, the combination, with thesupporting-frame and a sliding bed or plate mounted in suitable waysthereon, of holding or clamping devices, consisting of a plate adaptedfor adjustable attachment with said sliding table and provided withspring-arms elastically supported thereby, substantially as described,and for the purpose set forth.

8.' In a staple-driving machine, the combination, with thesupporting-frame, the sliding bed or table mounted thereon, and thestapledriving mechanism, of a horizontally-sliding gage located abovesaid sliding table and adjustably supported in an arm or bracket locatedon the supportingframe by means of a clamping device or screw,substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

ROBERT BURNET. \Vitnesses:

CHAS. F. DANE, ANNIE L. HAYES.

